Unmasking Big Tobacco: Seven Deceptive Tactics Revealed

The tobacco industry has employed sophisticated and deceptive strategies to influence public opinion and disrupt health policies for decades. Despite overwhelming evidence of the deadly effects of tobacco products, the industry remains profitable, contributing to over 8 million tobacco-related deaths annually.

In a comprehensive review, the Tobacco Control Working Group of the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) has identified seven key tactics employed by the tobacco industry, revealing the industry’s pervasive influence across scientific research, politics, law, sport, education, and the media.

Understanding these tactics is crucial for effective tobacco control measures. Recommendations include comprehensive advertising bans, plain packaging, health warnings, vigilance against industry front groups, education, and advocacy. Transparency in academic journals, compliance with FCTC Article 5.3, exposure of political lobbying, strict regulation of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), prioritizing data over propaganda in the ‘harm reduction’ debate, aligning policies with FCTC, and legal action against Big Tobacco are vital steps. Health professionals and the public must be informed to collectively combat the industry’s tactics, reducing global tobacco consumption and preventing related illnesses and deaths.

A Pioneering Step Towards Planetary Health: WFPHA Signs the Manifesto

In a significant move towards addressing the urgent challenges posed by Planetary Health, the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) proudly announces its commitment by signing the manifesto on the Declaration of Planetary Health. This pivotal declaration, signed by numerous academic health institutions, underscores the Code Red emergency our planet faces and advocates for immediate action in education, research, and the transformation of health systems.

Key Points:

Understanding the Emergency: The Code Red warning highlights the severity of the planetary health crisis, and the WFPHA acknowledges the need for swift and comprehensive action.

WFPHA’s Pledge: By signing the manifesto, the WFPHA commits to playing a central role in addressing the global planetary health emergency, advocating for education and research to build a sustainable future.

Climate-Resilient Health Systems: The manifesto emphasizes transitioning to climate-resilient and low-carbon health systems, recognizing the vital connection between environmental health and well-being.

Endorsement of Healthy Climate Prescription: The WFPHA aligns itself with the Healthy Climate Prescription, an initiative by the Global Climate and Health Alliance and the World Health Organization, calling for urgent actions such as updating national climate commitments, a just transition away from fossil fuels, and equitable distribution of resources.

Call to Action: The WFPHA encourages its members and the global public health community to unite in addressing the planetary health emergency through education, research, and transformative action. Additionally, the endorsement of the Healthy Climate Prescription amplifies the call for concrete measures to combat climate change.

Conclusion: The signing of the manifesto and endorsement of the Healthy Climate Prescription mark historic moments, signaling the WFPHA’s dedication to a future where planetary health and human well-being are inseparable. The commitment reflects a collective effort towards a healthier, sustainable, and just world, with a clear roadmap for climate action.

Looking Back at COP28: Putting Public Health First in Climate Action

As COP28 came to a close, it became clearer the importance of focusing on public health to deal effectively with the climate crisis.

The World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) played an important role at the COP28 Health Pavilion, leading talks to create a sustainable future that prioritizes the well-being of our planet and its people.

Let’s take a quick look back at some important moments from COP28 where key discussions happened about how climate and health are connected.

Embracing a Just Transition: Considering Health in Sustainability

One standout event during COP28 was the discussion on #JustTransition. Diverse voices came together to explore how health considerations could seamlessly fit into our journey toward a sustainable future.

At the event ‘Accelerating a Just Transition for Healthy People and a Healthy Planet,’ Hannah Marcus, Co-Chair of the Environmental Health Working Group at the WFPHA, discussed strategies for a smooth transition to a sustainable future, emphasizing the crucial role of both environmental and public health.

Marcus highlighted the importance of prioritizing public health within the broader context of global climate talks.

Confidence as a Catalyst: Driving Innovation for Change

Amidst the numerous insights shared at COP28, one particularly stood out, resonating with the essence of transformative change. Johan Rockström, Director at Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research PIK, a notable voice at the conference, emphasized, “For real innovation to occur, we need to have confidence. Just as the Earth’s systems have tipping points, so do social systems; that is, when enough people have confidence in something new, a tipping point is passed and transformation becomes possible.”

That statement underscores that transformative change becomes achievable when a critical mass believes in something new. It served as a guiding principle, emphasizing confidence’s role in steering innovation towards sustainable solutions.

Insights from the Ground: Hannah Marcus’s Updates

Hannah Marcus kept us in the loop with live updates from COP28. From discussions on prioritizing environmental health to active participation in the Climate Mobility Pavilion youth forum, organized by the International Organization for Migration and the Global Centre for Climate Mobility, she provided real-time insights into the vital conversations shaping the conference.

Networking for Impact: Collaborative Efforts in Focus

Hannah Marcus’s interaction with global health leader DrMariaNeira, WHO Director for Environment, Climate Change, and Health, showcased the collaborative spirit needed to address the intersection of global health and climate action.

WFPHA supports the move away from fossil fuels but urges faster and more ambitious action soon. As we reflect on COP28, the resounding message is clear: public health must play a central role in the global climate agenda.

Join us in revisiting Hannah Marcus’s journey through this pivotal conference, where the well-being of our planet and its people took the spotlight.

Urgent Appeal: WFPHA Addresses WHO Executive Board on Health Conditions in Occupied Palestinian Territory

The World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) congratulates the initiative of the World Health Organization Executive Board to hold a Special Session on the health conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory. As an entity that represents 130 national associations and more than 5 million health practitioners around the globe, the WFPHA joins with UN and WHO leaders’ voices expresses deep concerns about the situation, echoing the voices of UN and WHO leaders.

Urgently calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas militants, the WFPHA emphasizes the need for a peace process to safeguard the well-being of health professionals and the civilian population in the region.

Strengthening Global Public Health Resilience: WHO Roadmap & Action Plan for the Public Health and Emergency Workforce

The recent challenges posed by many emergencies, from natural and man-made disasters to the COVID-19 pandemic, underscore the critical importance of a robust and resilient public health workforce. In response to the pressing need for a coordinated and skilled workforce, the World Health Organization (WHO) has unveiled a comprehensive roadmap and action plan for training and securing the Public Health and Emergency Workforce. This initiative revisits the Essential Public Health Functions (EPHFs),  addresses the structure of the global public health workforce, and emphasizes the need for an appropriately trained and resilient public health workforce in addressing public health needs, those considered core public health activities a critical to the health of everyone but less obvious and visible.

Conceptualization of the Roadmap:

The Roadmap’s genesis can be traced back to the G20 Italy Declaration in October 2021, followed by an expert consultation in January 2022. The Roadmap and Action Plan were officially published in May 2022, with the establishment of the Roadmap Taskforce, coinciding with other global initiatives and meetings such as the G7 Berlin Pact for Readiness, and the launch of the Pandemic Fund in November 2022. Noteworthy events in 2023 include the G7 Japan Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment and the 3rd Roadmap Taskforce Steering Committee Meeting in July.

Vision & Purpose:

The Roadmap vision is to strengthen the public health workforce in every country, and includes three Action Areas (AAs):

AA1: Operationalizing the Essential Public Health Functions (EPHFs) – an integrated and comprehensive approach to public health

• Identifying and defining the EPHFs & services and their enablers
• Updating and expanding the EPHFs, and adding subfunctions
• This strategic review was achieved through a worldwide expert consultation process.

AA2: Competency and outcomes framework towards the delivery of the Essential Public Health Functions

• Identifying the tasks the public health workforce performs, both regularly as all or part of usual work, and during emergencies
• Mapping the academic and practical training the workforce needs to accomplish these tasks
• Developing a framework for competency-based education.

There are two major sections about competence, personal and practical:

1. Competencies for individual public health and emergency workers towards the EPHFs; and
2. Practice activities towards Essential Public Health Functions (EPHFs)

This was achieved through a major systematic literature review and content analysis mapping process, refined through an expert review of international experts. Future work involves strengthening institutional processes for updating curricula to ensure appropriate workforce capacities.

AA3: Technical guidance for mapping and measurement of occupations that contribute to the delivery of the essential public health functions including emergency preparedness and response

• Mapping & Measurement of Occupations by developing a standardized approach for occupation mapping.
• Discussions about the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) revisions.

Again, this was achieved through an international consultation process. The mapping tools and processes have been piloted in seven countries.

Way Forward:

The roadmap sets clearly defined targets for the five-year period from 2022 to 2027, emphasizing a systematic and progressive approach to achieving its goals.

WHO is seeking countries to use at least one of these tools, hoping to enroll 100 before July 2024. The process for becoming involved is not complex and can be found on the Roadmap website (address below).

Reflection & Summary:

In conclusion, the Roadmap responds to the pressing need for a skilled public health workforce, highlighted by the recent pandemic and other recent emergencies.

By paving the way for competent personnel adapted to individual contexts, it aims to create resilient health systems and foster public trust. For those interested in further resources the relevant documents are available in draft form, the final versions to be available early in 2024.